Regimental Mascots

Royal Munster Fusiliers

Thanks to Alexandra Bennett and James F. O'Sullivan for
details on this page

The infantry regiment which became known as The Royal Munster Fusiliers was
originally formed by the merging of two other infantry regiments dating from
the 1760's. These were the 101st. and the 104th. Regiments of the British Army,
which had seen service mainly in India. There were four regiments numbered 101
from 1760 to 1817 which existed only briefly, and another Regiment called the
101st. gave over a century's service with The East India Company from 1756 to
1861.

This was in the days when military regiments were raised by their leaders
or by trading companies and then gave service to governments when required. In
1861, the control of the 101st. passed from The East India Company to the
English Crown. It remained a part of The British Army until 1922, when The
Royal Munster Fusiliers was disbanded. As this name denotes, "The
Munsters" were recruited from Ireland's Southern Province of Munster,
which is comprised of the Irish Counties of Clare, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary,
Limerick and Waterford.

Part of a 1901 Stereoview - the Royal Munster
Fusiliers lining the trenches
on a Boer Alarm, Honey Nest Kloof, South Africa

On the back of the card it states: "Royal
Munster Fusiliers wisely kept behind the Redoubt at Hones Nest Kloof (Feb. 16)
S. Africa.

The 3rd Battalion (Kerry Militia) existed from 1881-1922 and was formed by
redesignation of South Cork Light Infantry Militia. The Battalion was mobilised
at Tralee on August 4th, 1914 and later that month was deployed to Berehaven
and Bantry Bay. In October, 1914 it was moved to Cork. In May, 1915 it was
relocated to Aghada and Cork Harbour. In October, 1917 it was located at
Ballincolig, Co. Cork. In November, 1917 the battalion was moved to England at
Devonport.

About May 1918 it absorbed the 4th and 5th Battalions but remained at
Plymouth Garrison until the Armistice in November, 1918.

In 1914, Miss V.H.Grant of Lichborough Hall, Weedon, Northampton, offered a
hound as mascot for the Leinster Regiment but the offer was declined as the
Regiment was being sent into battle and, although the Commanding Officer was
willing to take the hound and have him looked after by their transport while
the Regiment was in the trenches, he felt that Miss Grant would prefer the dog
to stay in the U.K. He was then offered to the 3rd Battalion Royal Munster
Fusiliers, in Aghada, Co. Cork and the following letter was received:

It reads:
"Dear Sir,
Your letter to the Adjutant, Depot R.M. Fus., has been passed to me and the
Commanding Officer has asked me to write and say that he would very much like
to have the wolf-hound for the Battalion , he would have a good home and
would be well cared for, my only fear would that he would be too well looked
after the men all love a dog and show it by feeding him on every opportunity,
however I think we can prevent this from being overdone.
"It would also be well that any conditions which you wished to impose
should be clearly stated such as your having first refusal of him if at any
time it was found impossible for the Regiment to keep him.
Yours sincerely,"

The letter was signed by the Adjutant, Captain Walter McClelland Crosbie,
who the following year was promoted to Major and was Commanding support
companies of the 8th Service Battalion as they prepared at 3.00 am to mount an
attack on Guillemont. By September 4th the Battalion had 265 casualties, among
them was Major Crosbie, wounded in action.

The dog was Lichborough Garryowen, bred by Mr. Foster, by Wickham O'Hara out
of Eastmar Vespa (unregistered), and born June 3rd, 1910, although he was
actually purchased at the age of 10 months for the sum of £5 from an
Ernest Smith who no longer wanted him because he had grown "too big".
He was known in the Regiment as "Garry" and was over five years old
when he finally reached the barracks in Aghada towards the end of 1915.

Garry in 1911, aged about 1 year

Garry at Aghada 1915

THE REGIMENTAL MASCOT -
LIEUTENANT J. O'SHEA, 3rd Royal Munster Fusiliers,
in company with the regimental mascot, 'Garryowen.'
A prominent member in musical circles in the south, his
abilities and energy in this direction are much appreciated
by the troops quartered in Aghada. He has been through
France and was wounded. Cork Examiner 11/10/1916

Garry was with the 3rd Battalion until 1918, when it was disbanded, and he
was then taken over by the 1st Battalion. When the 1st Battalion was sent to
Silesia, Garry was taken care of by the Regimental Depot but in 1922 he was
returned to Lichborough Hall with an officer to deliver him, as the Royal
Munster Fusiliers was being disbanded..

Garry in 1921 with the 1st Battalion

Garry leading the Band on a wet day outside North Road
Station in Plymouth
It is thought that this photograph may have been of troops leaving Plymouth
and could well be those that went to Tarnowitz in Silesia during the troubles
there in 1921-1922.Photo by kind permission of Jill Trafford

Garry in November, 1922 with Miss Grant

One of the interesting points about Garry is that there is no mention of him
in the official records of the Regiment, so he was never an
"official" regimental pet or mascot, despite having been with them
for seven years, as well as having a coat with RMF embroidered on it, and
leading the band.